From Engadget · Devindra Hardawar · · 1m 20s
Resident Evil movie finally nails survival horror
Zach Cregger's new adaptation captures the dread and resource scarcity that made the games great.
In brief
Zach Cregger's new adaptation captures the dread and resource scarcity that made the games great. Great video game movies need to understand what made the source material work, not just recreate fan-favorite moments. Originally reported by Engadget.
Previous Resident Evil films missed the point
The six Milla Jovovich movies focused on bombastic action instead of the dread and desperation that define survival horror games.
Cregger understands survival horror
Director Zach Cregger is both an excellent horror filmmaker and a genuine fan of the franchise, giving him the tools to capture what makes the games work.
Bryan is the perfect everyman protagonist
The film centers on Bryan, a medical courier dealing with anxiety about becoming a father, making him an ideal Resident Evil protagonist with real flaws.
Camera work mimics game perspective
Cregger uses over-the-shoulder and first-person camera angles that evoke Resident Evil 4, making viewers feel like they're controlling Bryan through the game world.
Resource scarcity creates constant tension
Bryan finds guns but must hunt for ammunition, and the film tracks his exact ammo count, replicating the survival horror tension of managing limited resources.
Balance creativity with source material respect
Cregger's success shows video game movies need creativity and effort, not slavish fan service or complete rejection of what made the games great.
The takeaway
Great video game movies need to understand what made the source material work, not just recreate fan-favorite moments.
